sammons



J. S.'l SAMMONS.

Car Couplng.

Patented June 5, 1860.

Witnesses:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. S. SAMMONS, OF NENV YORK, N. Y.

CAR-COUPLING.

Specication of Letters Patent No. 28,609, dated .Tune 5, 1860.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. S. SAMMoNs, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Car- Coupling; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section of my invention. Fig. 2 a transverse vertical section of ditto taken in the line w, az, Fig. 3, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 3 a plan or top view of ditto. n

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to that class `of car-couplings which are self-attaching, and which may be uncoupled or detached without the necessity of the operator or attendant passing between the platforms of the cars. In couplings of this class it is essential that the shackle, when in one head only, be retained in a horizontal position in order that the head of the adjoining car may receive it and thereby insure an attachment of two cars when they come in contact. It is also essential that the parts comprising the coupling be as few in number as possible, simply arranged, and in such a manner that they will not be liable to be deranged by use, a contingency of frequent occurrence in self-couplings owing to the carelessness of brakemen in not properly applying the brakes as thel cars approach each other; there not being any person to injure between the platforms, induces recklessness and the couplings are frequently injured by concussions.

The object of the within described invention is to obtain by a simple means the above mentioned requisites and to this end I employ a vertically moving catch, a pendent dog, a lever, springs and stop, combined and arranged in relation with each other within the bumper head as hereinafter fully shown and described.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention I will proceed to describe it.

A, A, represents the platforms of two adjoining cars, and B, B, are the bumper heads which are secured to the under sides of the platforms in such a manner as to allow a requisite degree of longitudinal play or movement as usual. This may be effected by having the bumper rods C, slide in their bearings a., and having a spiral spring b, on the back end of each rod C, and interposed between a shoulder c, on each rod and a bearing d, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. The bumper heads B, may be of the usual form, their outer ends being of flaring or bell form. In each head a dog D, is suspended from a pin or pivot c, said pins or pivots passing horizontally through the upper parts of the heads. The dogs D, are simply straight bars which extend down nearly to the bottom of the heads and are allowed to swing freely on their pivots e. In the upper part of each head B, a bar E, is fitted in a suitable slot or opening f, the back ends of the bars being secured in the slots or openings by pivots g. The bars E, have inclined sides so that their upper surfaces will be wider than their lower ones and thereby prevent the bars passing down within the heads, the sides of the slots or openings f, being correspondently inclined, see Fig 2. The front ends of the bars E, when down or within their slots or openings f, bear against the upper ends of the dogs D, above their pivots g, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In the back part of each head B, there is placed a three armed lever F. These levers are allowed to work freely on fulcrum pins it, and their upper ends bear against or are in contact with the back part of the under side of the bars E. Within each head B, there is also a vertical ledge or projection G, the outer or front sides of which are curved and have springs II, attached which extend forward and downward in each head, the front ends of the springs being near the bottoms of the heads and eX- tending in front of the dogs D. The ledges G, are in front of the levers F. To the upper parts of the heads B, andjust in front of the dogs D, there are pendent springs I, attached the lower ends of the springs being in front of the lower parts of the dogs as shown in Fig. l.

J, are rods or shafts which are fitted transversely under the platforms A, are bent in crank form at their centers as shown at z', and pass through the lower ends of the levers F.

From the above description it will be seen that the shackle K, will be held horizontally in either head B, by the springs H, and consequently the outer or disengaged end of the shackle will be in proper position to pass into the head of an adjoining' platform A. The ledges Gr, serve as stops and receive the shocks of the shackles when the cars come in contact the bumpers yielding in consequence of the application of the springs b, to the bumper rods C. When the shackle K, enters a head B, the lower end of its dog D, is thrown back-the dog dropping as soon as the shackle passes a certain distance within the head. The dogs D, retain the shackle in the heads B, the bars E, preventing their lower ends yielding or moving outward under the draft power or pull, as will be fully understood by referring to Fig. l. In

'order to disengage the coupling one of the bars E, is elevated above the upper part of its dog D, by moving the lever F, through the medium of the rod or shaft J, and the dog being thus liberated yields or turns on vits pivot or fulcrum e, (see red lines Fig. l)

and the: shackle K, is allowed to pass out of the head.

The levers F, may have cords or chains attached to their lower ends, said cords or chains passing into the bodies of the cars if desired so that the couplings may be disconnected from within the cars or by a per- 'son on the platform. rPhe rods or shafts J,

may be turned at the sides of the platform. In case of a car being upset, the bars E, will be thrown outward so as to admit of the disengagement of the shackle. The springs I, throw the dogs D, back to their original position after the withdrawal of the shackle.

I do not claim any of the within described parts separately and irrespective of the arrangement herein shown and 'describedsuspended dogs have been used and also retaining or holding springs to keep the shackle in a horizontal position when in one head only; but, I am not aware that the parts herein shown and described have been -combined and arranged relatively with each other to effect the end described.

I claim therefore as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentd The bar or catch E, dog D, and disengaging lever F, combined with a stop or ledge Gr, and retaining spring H, with or without the spring I, all being placed within the bumper head and arranged relatively with each other to operate as set forth.

J. S. SAMMONS.

Witnesses:

B. GIROUX, M. M. LIVINGSTON. 

